"Nobody should panic but everyone should take this seriously," Edwards said.

Gordon is expected to reach hurricane strength before making landfall just east of Louisiana. A hurricane warning has been issued for the coast in Mississippi and Alabama, from the mouth of the Pearl River to the Alabama-Florida state line, but not for Louisiana.

No part of Louisiana is under a mandatory evacuation order, but voluntary evacuations have been suggested in Grand Isle and ares in New Orleans outside the levee protection area.

Edwards warned other residents not to become complacent. "The threat of severe weather continues to exist for Louisiana," he said. The storm "has every possibility to track further in our direction."

The New Orleans region is supposed to get a large amount of rainfall, up to 8 inches total. The governor also said New Orleans and Baton Rouge continue to be in the path of Gordon, on the western side of it. Winds should pick up to "tropical-storm levels" in Louisiana around 2 p.m. tomorrow, initially in Plaquemines Parish, Edwards said.

As a precaution, Edwards said he will send 200 members of the Louisiana National Guard to the southeastern portion of the state Tuesday morning. Sixty-three high-water vehicles, 39 boats and four helicopters will also be moved to the greater New Orleans area, according to the governor. The Louisiana transportation department has also moved barricades and "high water" signs to the New Orleans area in case they are needed.

New Orleans' drainage system -- which was compromised during part of hurricane season last year -- is expected to be running at full capacity after $80 million in repairs were made in recent months.

Officials with the Sewerage & Water Board, which operates the city's drainage pumps, said Monday that 116 out of the utility's total 120 pumps are available for use. Edwards said that is the most pumps that have been operating since he became governor at the beginning of 2016.

"They are in better shape than they have been in a very long time," Edwards said. "We don't expect any issues there with respect to pumps and in the turbines."

Still, heavy bursts of rain could overwhelm the drainage system and lead to street flooding. Joseph Sensebe, the Sewerage & Water Board's operations manager, estimated Monday the system could handle between 2 and 3 inches of water within an hour, based on experience with past rains. More than that could exceed the system's capacity.

In anticipation of severe weather, Edwards spoke to several officials Monday, including FEMA administrator Brock Long with President Donald Trump's administration.

"I think we had the great fortune last night of beating one hurricane - out of Miami," Edwards said, referencing the LSU football win over the University of Miami.